Apparatus for preparing wallpaper for application

Abstract

Wallpaper dispenser for automatically hydrating a film of glue pre-applied to one side of a roll of wallpaper. The dispenser includes a reservoir having a roll of wallpaper rotatably supported thereover and a roller for guiding the wallpaper within a quantity of water contained within the reservoir. A ramp is provided for cutting the wallpaper and includes a cutting ridge along which a cutting member is drawn to cut the wallpaper perpendicular to the length thereof. A tape measure and means for securing the tape measure adjacent the ridge are provided to indicate the point, forwardly of the ridge, adjacent which the forward margin of the wallpaper should be positioned. A slidable member is provided to automatically align the pattern on one strip of wallpaper with the same pattern on a previously cut strip when the strips are positioned in laterally adjacent relation and with the top margins thereof in alignment.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for dispensing a roll of wallpaper having glue pre-applied to one side thereof and a repeating pattern on the other side thereof, said dispenser comprising: (a) a reservoir having a quantity of water therein for wetting said glue;   (b) guide means connected to said reservoir for guiding said wallpaper within said water and across a forward lip of said reservoir;   (c) means connected to said reservoir for indicating a point at a selected distance from said reservoir, wherein a forward margin of said wallpaper may be positioned adjacent to said point such that said wallpaper may be cut adjacent said reservoir a selected length substantially equal to said selected distance; and   (d) a cutting ramp connected to said reservoir adjacent said forward lip and sloping downwardly therefrom, wherein said ramp has a sloping cutting panel with two end panels integrally connected to said sloping panel and a vertical support panel in substantially normal relation thereto and extending adjacent to said reservoir, and said vertical support panel connected to said sloping panel and forming a ridge thereon along which a cutting member is drawn to cut said wallpaper said predetermined length and a bottom integrally connected to a lower edge of said vertical support panel and said end panels, such that said reservoir, sloping panel, vertical support panel and end panels form an enclosed storage chamber, and door means pivotally connected to said sloping panel and forming a portion thereof and of said vertical support panel for accessing said storage chamber.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a drop cloth wrapped about a shaft and enclosed within said enclosure, wherein said shaft is rotatably connected to said end panels for rotary movement about a horizontal axis such that said drop cloth may be manually pulled from said storage chamber and forwardly of said ramp. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as described in claim 1 further comprising: (a) a drop cloth wrapped about a shaft and enclosed within said enclosure, said drop cloth having a plurality of first connectors attached thereto; and   (b) a plurality of second connectors connected to said vertical support and corresponding to said first connectors wherein said first connectors may be detachably connected to said second connectors such that said drop cloth is rolled forwardly of said ramp to isolate said wallpaper from a supporting surface thereunder.   
     
     
       4. Apparatus for dispensing a roll of wallpaper having glue pre-applied to one side thereof and a repeating pattern on the other side thereof, said dispenser comprising: (a) a reservoir having a quantity of water therein for wetting said glue;   (b) guide means connected to said reservoir for guiding said wallpaper within said water and across a forward lip of said reservoir;   (c) means connected to said reservoir for indicating a point at a selected distance from said reservoir, wherein a forward margin of said wallpaper may be positioned adjacent to said point such that said wallpaper may be cut adjacent said reservoir a selected length substantially equal to said selected distance;   (d) a cutting ramp connected to said reservoir adjacent said forward lip and sloping downwardly therefrom, wherein said ramp has a sloping cutting panel and a substantially vertical support panel connected to said sloping panel and forming a ridge thereon along which a cutting member is drawn to cut said wallpaper said predetermined length;   (e) means, connected to said reservoir and selectively positionable adjacent a point on said repeating pattern when said forward margin is positioned adjacent said point defined by said indicating means, for defining a pattern alignment reference relative to said ridge; and wherein said defining alignment means comprises an elongated member mounted to said reservoir and said ramp means for movement forwardly of said ridge, wherein a forward tip of said elongated member is aligned with a selected point on a said repeating pattern of said first strip when a forward margin of said first strip is pulled said measured distance from said slot, such that said subsequent strips are cut by pulling said subsequent strips forwardly until said selected point on an said repeating pattern is aligned with said forward tip, whereafter said cutting member is drawn along said ridge to cut said subsequent strip from said roll.     
     
     
       5. Apparatus for dispensing a roll of wallpaper having glue pre-applied to one side thereof, a repeating pattern on an opposite side thereof and a forward margin parallel to said roll, said apparatus comprising: (a) a reservoir having a quantity of water contained therein for hydrating said pre-applied glue;   (b) a pair of vertical members detachably connected to said reservoir and extending upwardly therefrom;   (c) a support roller rotatably connected to said pair of vertical members and supported thereby above said reservoir for rotary movement about a horizontal axis, wherein said support roller extends axially through said roll of wallpaper and supports and roll above said reservoir;   (d) a guide roller rotatably connected to said reservoir and within said quantity of water contained therein for guiding said wallpaper beneath said water, wherein said wallpaper is manually fed beneath said guide roller and over a forward lip of said reservoir parallel to said guide roller;   (e) a ramp sloping forwardly and downwardly from said forward lip and defining a ridge thereon parallel to said forward lip, wherein said wallpaper is pulled across said ridge such that a cutting member drawn along said ridge will cut said wallpaper parallel to said forward margin thereof; and   (f) means for automatically aligning a repeating pattern on a roll of wallpaper comprising a means for measuring attached to said reservoir to measure a predetermined length of said wallpaper and an elongated member adjustably attached to said reservoir such that said elongated member is selectively set to define a reference position to align subsequent cut length of wallpaper thereto.   
     
     
       6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising a recess formed on said ramp and partially defined by a lip portion thereof defined by said ramp below said ridge and subjacent said recess wherein a member, connected to an end of a tape measure in perpendicular relation thereto, is received within said recess and behind said lip such that said tape measure may be deployed forwardly of said ramp to indicate a point a selected distance from said ridge. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus for dispensing a roll of wallpaper having a repeating pattern on one side thereof and a forward margin parallel to said roll, said apparatus comprising: (a) a reservoir having a bottom and four substantially vertical sides for containing a quantity of fluid;   (b) a means for supporting said roll of wallpaper above said reservoir;   (c) a guide roller rotatably connected to said reservoir and within said quantity of fluid contained therein for guiding said wallpaper beneath said fluid, wherein said wallpaper is urged beneath said guide roller and over a forward lip of said reservoir parallel to said guide roller;   (d) a ramp sloping forwardly and downwardly from said forward lip and defining a ridge thereon parallel to said forward lip, wherein said wallpaper is pulled across said ridge such that a cutting member drawn along said ridge will cut said wallpaper parallel to said forward margin thereof;   (e) an elongated member slidably connected to said ramp and extendible forwardly therefrom to a selected position to define a reference for aligning said repeating pattern on a first strip of wallpaper, cut from said roll, with said repeating pattern on one or more subsequent strips of wallpaper, cut from said roll, when said first and subsequent strips are applied to a planar surface in laterally adjacent relation and with a top margin of said first and subsequent strips aligned; and   (f) means operatively attached to said reservoir for measuring the length of a strip of wallpaper relative to said ridge.   
     
     
       8. Apparatus for dispensing a roll of wallpaper having a repeating pattern on one side thereof and a forward margin parallel to said roll, comprising a reservoir for containing a fluid for moistening said wallpaper to enable application thereof to a wall, support means for supporting said roll for rotational movement about the horizontal axis of said roll, guide means connected to said reservoir for guiding said wallpaper from said roll within said reservoir and fluid to ensure that said wallpaper is sufficiently moistened to adhere to the; cutting guide means for guiding a cutting member across said wallpaper at a fixed reference to sever said wallpaper into individual strips; means attached to said reservoir for measuring said wallpaper relative to said cutting guide to measure the length of said individual strips; and pattern aligning means adjustably mounted to said reservoir and selectively extendable for alignment with a point on said repeating pattern relative to said cutting guide to provide a pattern alignment reference for said individual strips.